News & Events
Heritage Days
Elementary and home school student groups are invited to join us on Friday, September 26, 2025 for Bethel's annual Heritage Days event to "step back in time" and experience life as it was in a previous century. • • • SCHEDULE: Sept. 26, 2025 | 9:00am to 1:30pm (with a...
Wildlife & Outdoor Expo – August 2025
The 2025 Wildlife & Outdoor Expo (sponsored by Historic Bethel German Colony) will highlight a variety of educational seminars, exhibitors and vendors showcasing such items as hunting products and accessories, equipment, and outdoor related crafts for purchase....
Friday Night Old-Time Fiddling
In just a few short weeks, historic Bethel will again be filled with the sound of music as we welcome youth to Bethel Fiddle Camps 2025. The wrap-up to the week-long camp on Friday night is always a treat, as you'll hear musicians play their favorite piece and watch...
Our History
Membership was about 650 in 1855 when Keil, fearing Bethel too subject to outside influence, led a group west and established Aurora Colony in Oregon. Their expedition over the Oregon Trail is unique for it was conducted as a funeral cortege. Keil’s son, Willie, died before he realized his father’s promise to lead the group and was carried instead in the head wagon in a metal box, alcohol-filled. After six months and over 2000 miles, he was buried at Willapa, Washington.
Keil never returned to Bethel, directing affairs there by letter. When the colonies disbanded, 1879-1881, they held property in common valued at $109,806. Bethel supplied $64,328 of this and owned 4267 acres.
